Utah has some of the most spectacular parks in America! Home to “The Mighty Five” National Parks, there is no shortage of jaw-dropping sights and things to do! While there are countless of itineraries to hit all five parks (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion), it is possible to visit the highlights in a quick weekend. This is my Utah National Park Road Trip Itinerary!
Day 1: Arches & Bryce Canyon
Get ready for an adventure-packed (and long) day!
We chose to start our journey in Grand Junction, Colorado. My friend and I had just taken the Amtrak from Denver through the Rocky Mountains, and crashed there for the night after our train was delayed over 6 hours. It actually worked out really well, and I’d recommend Grand Junction, CO as a starting point for anyone doing this itinerary.
Arches
About an hour and a half drive from Grand Junction, CO is the town of Moab, Utah. Moab is home to many things including art festivals and even dinosaur tracks, but it is most famous for the red rock formations that make up Arches National Park. Get on the road before the sun and arrive at Arches first thing in the morning. The park is open 24/7 and trust me- you’ll want to do as much hiking and exploring before it gets hot.
The best thing to do in Arches is hike to the iconic formations! Some easy trails with the best views include Balanced Rock, The Windows, Skyline Arch, and Double Arch. All of these hikes are relatively flat and less than one mile.
The most famous however, is the 3 mile roundtrip hike to Delicate Arch. You may recognize it from the Utah license plates- it’s iconic! The hike to Delicate Arch is an incredibly popular hike, even more so at sunrise and sunset. The hike is completely out in the sun and has no shade. Plan for about 2-3 hours round trip, and get there early as the parking lot fills up FAST.
Tip: If you’re crunched for time like we were, there is a shorter (about .8 mile) hike to the Delicate Arch Viewpoint. Here, you’ll be able to admire the beauty from a distance, while also being mindful of your busy schedule!
Bonus: Canyonlands
Canyonlands National Park is also located near Moab, only about 30 minutes away from Arches. It is absolutely possible to visit either before or after Arches! However, we were crunched for time trying to make it to Bryce Canyon and didn’t make it to Canyonlands, therefore I am not recommending for this jam-packed itinerary. This itinerary is packed enough and I fear adding another park would take away from both. If we had another day, we would have absolutely added in Canyonlands!
Bryce Canyon
After you’ve filled your morning with several short hikes at Arches, it’s time to hit the road on the way to Bryce Canyon!
Bryce Canyon is not a short drive- expect to be on the road for about four hours. While that may sound like a lot, it really is possible. We left Arches around noon, after exploring and hiking since about 7 am. While it wasn’t enough time to do everything we wanted to do, we got our fill and were welcoming some time to sit in the car and relax! The drive to Bryce Canyon is a combination between highway and state roads. But don’t worry, it’s an easy drive and you won’t be bored as you watch the scenery change right before your eyes!
Bryce Canyon is home to the largest collection of Hoodoos (the spiky rocks) on Earth. It’s small by National Park standards (in fact, the main road is only 18 miles long), but that is what makes it perfect for your half day of fun. There are four main viewpoints in Bryce Canyon- Bryce, Inspiration, Sunrise, and Sunset. While each one offers a view of the canyon and the hoodoos, my personal favorite was Inspiration Point (pictured above), as it offered the most sweeping views.
For those looking to hike, the famous Navajo Trail descends from Sunset Point into the main amphitheater. While the hike is only 1.3 miles, you descend (and then ascend) about 550 feet, so plan for plenty of time!
After a jam-packed day, settle for the night at one of the many hotels in Bryce or nearby town of Tropic.
Day 2: Zion
Get ready for another long – but absolutely incredible- day! I admit that I didn’t know what to expect going into Zion National Park. Typically, I am the one on trips who does all the planning and has everything laid out ready to go. I took a back seat on this one, and let my friend call the shots. In fact, I didn’t even look up a park map ahead of time. I went in completely blind, and boy was I impressed!
Zion is spectacular. From the moment you drive in, you’re surrounded by enormous rock formations that made me question if we were actually in Yosemite. The park itself has limited availability, and it’s for the better. There are large designated parking lots inside the park and busses shuttle you to a number of stops throughout the park.
No matter what you are looking to do in Zion, get there early. I cannot stress this enough. Because every guest has to wait in line for the shuttle busses, things get busy… fast. We arrived shortly after sunrise, and had to wait about 2 hours for a bus. Plus, the parking lots were already filling up and we were forced to park in the overflow lot. Whatever time you think you should get there, plan to arrive 1-2 hours earlier.
Angel’s Landing
Angel’s Landing Trail is one of the most famous hikes in Zion- and also one of the most difficult! I’m not in great shape at all and I struggled through the 1,400+ feet of elevation change and mentally overcoming the steep dropoffs. However, it was one of the most inspiring and triumphant things I have ever done in my life.
As mentioned, if you plan on doing Angel’s Landing, get there early. And then even earlier than you think. It gets HOT in the Utah desert, and it can make the hike all the more challenging. In fact, I’m pretty sure I got heat stroke as I couldn’t walk after we finished, was incredibly lightheaded, and threw up four times (TMI, sorry).
The end of the road
After your jam-packed weekend of fun through Utah’s National Parks, it’s time to head back to real life. St. George Airport in St. George, Utah is a small regional airport, but the closest to Zion to fly out of after your adventures. It offers several daily flights to regional hubs like Salt Lake City and Phoenix to connect home. McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas is only about a 2.5 hour drive from Zion, and also an option for your flight out.
While this is certainly a jam-packed itinerary, it’s an opportunity to get a little taste of what Utah has to offer. It’s amazing how much you can fit into a typical two-day weekend!
Traveling soon? Check out my Travel Tips page to help you score good deals on flights, packing tips, tools to help you plan, and more!
No Comments